CLOUDY tank?

[here fishie fishie]

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>or some internals, eg; Sonpar''s.<
>Have seperate cases, in these cases you can mix it up, still have foam to catch waste. Use Zeolite or Matrix & the like for the bacteria to grow on. <
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>Frenchy  "A house full of people is a house full of different points of view"<
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[ashhhh]

on the topic of beneficial bacteria, as fish grow and more waste is produced and released into the water, would the bacteria colony in the filter subsequently grow to compensate<
>the rise in pollutants?........ providing the filter media surface is large enough to cope and there is sufficent tank water turnover of course.....anyone know?......just curious  Cheers<
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>Ash.....<
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I recon that the amount of oxygen in the water has alot to do with it, If you have a powerhead, definatly use the little attachment that sprays fine air bubbles into the water, or use an air stone (or a strip depending on the size of the tank) that puts out a fine bubble. <
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>Im no expert on this, just new to the hobby really, just noticed that with my tanks it will make a huge difference, and the fish seem more active aswell.<
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>As for the amount of bacteria building up with the more waste, i dont think so, pretty sure even if you only put a small load on the filter they will still grow through out the filter media, so more media/surface area, the more filtration ability. But thats a guess.<
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>HTH,<
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>Glen

[GTR73]

Ash - You''ll find that the bacteria colonies grow as the fish (load) grows from your tank. However bacteria grows very slowly, it takes weeks, so this is why people can run into trouble if they throw in a few large fish in one hit into their long-time established tank. Usually results in an inbalance which causes an ammonia spike. Meantime the bacteria is busy growing like crazy and trying to catch up with the increased load.<
>If you''re keen, take a look at this site for some good info on the types of bacteria in your tank. Interesting stuff:<
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>Water basics<
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>Frenchy - great idea on the centre tube for an internal. I''m gonna try that this weekend. <
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>Cheers.

[DeagonTheo]

Unfortunately someone you guessed everything wrong so no prize for you today.<
>The little bubbles in the water have little to do with the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water, they may help a little, but its the general water movement, and the amount of surface area in contact with the atmosphere, that determines the amount of oxygen in the water.<
>Also the amount of waste produced will definitely have a bearing on the beneficial bacteria, ie the more waste produced the more beneficial bacteria over a period of time. These things have to be done slowly though as the beneficial bacteria take a long time to get established.<
>At least you had the sense to say that you were guessing.<
>Theo<
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oh thats why i like forums, you learn something new everyday (today a couple of new things).<
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>Cheers.

[ashhhh]

thanks GTR, I thought I was on the right track........  Cheers<
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>Ash.....<
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[GTR73]

This has been a great thread - some good discussion and I''ve learnt a few things. Edited by: GTR73 at: 14/7/05 6:54<
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Just thinking about it further, so if i had say a 4 foot tank, with no air supply going into it, and a powerhead moving the water around. <
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>There would be more oxygen in this water than say a pyamid shaped tank with next to no surface area but a powerhead with an air attachement?<
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>Just doesnt make sence as i lost a few fish in a tank that i only had a canister filter running 4x2x2, and no airstones, the spraybar was only just under the surface and moving a fair bit of water. As soon as i put in an air stone, havent lost a single fish. all fish where the same age and size.<
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>Just wondering.<
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>Glen<
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[here fishie fishie]

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>Agitating the surface of the water is what oxygenates the water. I peronsally havent used an air stone in years. <
>eg; A 6 footer with just a canister & a Aqua Clear 300. No problems touch wood.  <
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>Quote:i lost a few fish What of? <
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>frenchy  "A house full of people is a house full of different points of view"<
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[GTR73]

Now you got me worried Glen, but I was always led to believe that surface movement was the key to oxygenation. On my 4ft I''ve got an external canister and an internal with a spray-bar attached, and like Frenchy I haven''t used an airstone in years. My internal filter''s spray bar is aligned horizontally and seems to create a fair bit of surface movement - never had any dramas as yet.<
> My fry tank is the same because air stones in their 2ft makes too much turbulence for them to eat and grow without burning off excess energy getting around.  

[DeagonTheo]

Generally if you''ve got a powerhead you dont need an airstone, unless you''ve got way too many fish and you need extra surface movement.<
>With cannister filters, I find that if you leave the spraybar or outlet too low in the tank, you dont get enough surface agitation and could run into problems, especially if you have problems with protein scum on top of the water.<
>So the general rule is observe your fish, they will let you know if they are short on oxygen.<
>If there is a problem check your filters, make sure there is some surface agitation, check for an oily film on the water.<
>If you are still having problems, you''ve probably got way too many fish in the tank or are overfeeding or both.<
>Theo<
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Yeah, look as long as the surface moves a bit you should be right, as to cannister filters the big hose can just have a rightangled piece attached to the outlet to direct water across the surface, a better flowing and quieter alternative to those annoying spray bars IMO.<
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>Hey deagon theo are you the guy who bought that tank and baby red devil off me in shorncliffe? If so, hows he going? His dad cracked the one foot mark the other day and is suitably furious about it. <
>Cheers

[DeagonTheo]

Yea thats me , I ended up getting rid of him and the other Americans they started to tear each other to pieces as they got bigger, nice fish though.<
>Theo<
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[ashhhh]

whether you use an airstone or your internal filter it doesnt really matter so long as you have something
eaking the surface tension of the water to allow the bad gasses to escape and get oxygen transfer and all that jaz happening... Cheers<
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>Ash.....<
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